r/Insurance • u/fffadedev • 9h ago
Auto Insurance I bumped my total loss payout by over 5 grand
Guy backed out into the entire right side of my Tesla Model 3 in a parking lot. Total loss. Insurance hit me with an initial settlement offer of $22,212, ACV of $21,258.
My car was only a 2020 sure, but it was Red Multi-Coat, White Interior, 19" Sports Wheels, and literal permanent FSD. Not only that but I kept my car in great conditio, park away from other people, never eat in it, wash it regularly at self serves, you get the picture. Base-spec model 3s in my area (Columbus, OH) literally start at ~$23,000, so I knew this valuation was total bogus.
I didn't sign. I asked for the full valuation report.
Combed through the entire thing line by line and found glaring issues:
- Their initial comps were NOT in my area at all. They selected a few vehicles all outside of Ohio over 150-200mi away, including PA.
- None of my factory options like exterior paint and Full-Self Driving were accounted for.
- They rated the interior/exterior condition as "Private Average" across the board with descriptions of "Few body dents and dings" and "Few scr*tches and burn marks on headliner".
I didn't get angry, yell at the adjuster, or get emotional. I set a firm boundary and sent over photos disproving their condition assessment; I pointed out that their comps were not accurate to my actual local market and handed over new ones; and I stated they missed major vehicle options.
At first, they tried to get me to hop on a phone call but I outright refused, saying I wanted everything on written record.
16 days later, after several back-and-forth emails, revision attempts, citations of Ohio Administrative Code, and a literal ODI (Ohio Department of Insurance) complaint filed, they finally came back with a reasonable revised report:
- Base value went from $21,258 to $26,107 (+$4,849)
- Sales tax increase of $387
- Total payout after $1k deductible: ~$27.5 grand
I'm not saying that this process will work for everyone; it's highly dependent on your actual vehicle case and what market data you can provide. And I'm sure not everyone's increase is going to be as massive as mine.
But I genuinely believe the software and adjustment process is designed to undervaluate your vehicle by default, and that it's absolutely worth fighting, especially if there are obvious discrepancies.
I don't see it as negotiating but rather correcting what I was owed.
Curious if anyone else here had a similar experience with a total loss...
Original vs New Letter: https://imgur.com/a/insurance-bump-5k-yKhTI7X